The Mary Sue Exclusive: Preview of Betty & Veronica and Life With Archie

New thing to fall in love with: Stephanie Buscema’s variant cover for Life With Archie, a serious (yes) soap opera comic that follows the adult lives of the Riverdale gang in two alternate universes: one where Archie married Betty, and one where Archie married Veronica. Unlike most of the comics world, a more “adult” story Life With Archie doesn’t mean sex, but rather a bunch of characters struggling with dreams deferred and the hard realities of working, married life. Not what most people associate with Archie Comics, but then again, neither was Kevin Keller!

But if you’re just looking for your regular Archie fix, you’ll probably like the five page preview we have here of Betty and Veronica #265, an Archie-style retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Life With Archie #31
The Eisner-nominated series continues with Life With Archie #31! In “Archie Marries Veronica,” Riverdale’s been hit hard by a string of misfortunes. Most recently there was a horrific mass shooting at a nearby mall, and then Fred Mirth fled town and took most of his money and businesses with him! These unfortunate events have been affecting the Riverdale gang pretty hard—Jughead’s Chocklit Shoppe is unlikely to succeed, and Veronica’s been arrested for fraud! Her connection to Kevin isn’t helping his candidacy much, either. How can Riverdale possibly recover?
Then, in “Archie Marries Betty,” Archie’s having a hard time being the smiling husband he needs to be, especially since he never seems to get to see his wife anymore! Can Archie stay supportive of Betty, or will he make a choice he’ll end up regretting? And Archie’s not the only one with relationship woes. Jellybean had to dump her boyfriend Davey after he tried to rob the Chocklit Shoppe! Unfortunately the burglaries weren’t the worst of the crimes to hit Riverdale. What’s happened to the idyllic small town, USA?

Betty and Veronica #265
Betty and the Beast”— If Veronica can’t have Archie, no one can! Prince Archie has been cursed into beast-form by Enchantress Veronica who saw no love in his heart for her. There is, however, a loophole to the spell: if another falls for Archie by his 21st birthday, the curse will be lifted! Otherwise, he’ll remain a beast for eternity. Just when it seems all hope is lost, along comes a romantic contender named Betty. Could she be the one? Will the spell be broken at long last? Not if Enchantress Veronica has anything to say about it!